Electric sign.



No. 811,059. PATENTED JAN. 80, 1906. G. HALLER.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1905.

aw, 9% @m CARL HALLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 1906.

Application filed .lpril 29, 1905. Serial No. 257,983.

T0 atZZ whom, it ntcty concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL I-IALLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric signs wherein the sign letters or numerals are illuminated by incandescent electric lamps.

The general object of the invention described in this present application is to provide an improved individual sign-letter which is complete in itself and does not need to be mounted upon a main foundation-plate or similar structure. It is desired to produce a letter which is simple in construction, durable, waterproof, capable of exhibiting a sharp outline, and efficient when only a comparatively small number of lamps are employed.

In this application I do not claim, broadly, the formation of the walls of the letter-shells nor the locating of a diaphragm intermediate of the front and'rear edges of the walls, as these features are described and claimed in, a separate application, filed by me on even date herewith, Serial No. 257,982. In said companion application I claim a sheet-metal letter-outline having a ridge formed therein between the front and back edges thereof for supporting the diaphragm. This invention is more especially concerned with the manner of mounting the lamp-sockets.

I attain my objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a complete letter. Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view analogous to Fig. 2, but showing the method of mounting a different type of lamp-socket. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a letter-shell having a modified form i of marginal beading. Fig. 5 is analogous to Fig. 3, but illustrates a type of letter having flaring walls.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As in the above-mentioned companion application, the letter-outline shell consists of walls a, a, which are composed of single sheets of metal from back to front and have formed therein at a point intermediate of the front and rear edges an inwardly-projecting ridge or shoulder I), designed to form a support for the diaphragm c. In addition to being of a single piece from back to front it is desirable that a wall shall be formed of a continuous sheet or strip along its perimeter, one object being to eliminate joints at the bends of the letter. The formation of certain letters and numerals is such that double walls will be required-that is, an inner and an outer one, for exampleat the upper portion of the letter "P, (shown in the drawings;) but each wall is preferably formed of a single piece of metal for the reason mentioned.

The ridges or shdulders b above referred to project inwardly and extend around the letter, parallel to the back thereof, so that the diaphragm 0 will lie parallel to the front and rear edges of the letter and form a chamber a for receiving the lamp-sockets and supplywires thereof, as will be herein after mentioned.

In order to stiffen the crown or front rim of the shell, it is desirable to forn'i a beading d, which may be round in cross-section, as shown in Figs, 1, 2, 3, and 5, or rectangular, as shown in Fig. l, or may be completely omitted, if desired. The rear edges of the letter-shell are preferably turned inward, so as to form flanges e to afford means of attachment for the back plate Said back plate consists, preferably, of sheet metal and conforms to the shape of the letter, so as to form a backing or rear portion for the shell.

In this form of my invention the lampsockets are attached not to the back platef, but to the diaphragm itself. The construction of the socket is not essential; but in the type shown in Fig. 2 the socket consists of two parts 9 g. The portion 9 consists of a ring or collar adapted to lie adjacent to the front surface of the diaphragm and is secured in position by means of the portion g of the socket which forms the major portion thereof and is adapted to lie on the rear side of the diaphragm and make screw connection with said collar 9 in such manner that when the parts are screwed together the complete socket will be rigidly secured to said diaphragm. Then the parts are assembled, the greater portion of the socket will be contained within the chamber a and will consequently be hidden. from view and protected from the weather. Said chamber also forms a receptacle and housing for the wiring. (Not shown.)

The form of socket g shown in Fig. 3 is analogous to the form shown in Fig. 2, eX- cept that it lies entirely behind the diaphragm and is fastened thereto by means of small rivets, screws, or bolts. In either case the lamps h will be fastened into the socket so as to lie in front of the diaphragm between the walls of the letter-shell, and it is desirable that the lamps should not project much, if any, in front of the edges of the letter-shell. If the front of the diaphragm and the inner side of the letter-shell be white or of a light color, said diaphragm and wall-surfaces will mutually react upon each other to reflect and distribute the light, and in consequence the light will be distributed and a comparatively small number of lamps will be sufficient.

With this form of my invention the lampsockets may be attached to the diaphragm 0 before the latter is inserted into the shell, and this not only renders it easy to attach the sockets and connect the wiring from one socket to another, but the work of attaching and connecting them may be done by a separate workman at the same time that the letter-shells themselves are being constructed.

In assembling the structure after the lampsockets and wiring are in position upon the diaphragm the letter-shell is laid upon its back and the diaphragm dropped into the shell, where it will be brought to rest in proper position against the ridges b, which thus act as a positioning-stop. The dia-.

phragms are then soldered, riveted, or otherwise secured in position.

Although ordinarily the walls of the letter will be parallel from back to front, as well as parallel from end to end of the letter, they may be made to flare in front of the ridge 1) in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. With such form the construction and operation will not be different from that of the previously-described form; but the letter will have a greater width at the front.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric sign, the combination with lamp-sockets, of a sheet-metal shell forming the outline of a letter and having a ridge formed between its front and rear edges; and a diaphragm adapted to fit within said shell and lie against the said ridge therein and carry said lamp-sockets.

2. In an electric sign, the combination with a diaphragm and lamp sockets mounted thereon, of a letter-shell formed of sheet metal of a single continuous piece from the front to the rear edges; and a ridge impressed from the metal of the shell for supporting said diaphragm.

3. In an electric sign, the combination with a diaphragm and lamp-sockets mounted thereon, of an open-front letter-shell formed of a strip of sheet metal bent into the formof a letteroutline and having a ridge formed therein between the front and rear edges for supporting said diaphragm.

4. In an electric sign,'the combination with a diaphragm and lamp sockets mounted thereon, of an open-front letter-shell formed of a strip of sheet metal bent into the form of a letter-outline and having a ridge formed therein between the front and rear edges for supporting said diaphragm, said sheet being of a single continuous piece from the front to the rear edge thereof.

5. In an electric sign, the combination with a diaphragm and lamp -sockets mounted thereon of an open-front letter-shell formed of a strip of sheet metal bent into the form of a letter-outline and having a ridge formed therein between the front and rear edges for supporting said diaphragm, said shell having a beading at the front for stiffening it.

6. In an electric sign, the combination with lamp-sockets, of a sheet-metal shell forming the outline of a letter and having a ridge formed between its front and rear edges; and a diaphragm adapted to fit within said shell and lie against the said ridge therein and carry said lamp-sockets; said sockets lying chiefly on the rear side of the diaphragm for the purpose described.

7. In an electric sign, the combination with a diaphragm and lamp sockets mounted thereon of an open-front letter-shell formed of a strip of sheet metal bent into the form of a letter-outline and having a ridge formed therein between the front and rear edges for supporting said diaphragm, and a back plate secured to the rear edge of the letter-shell whereby a chamber is formed behind the diaphragm for containing said sockets and their wiring connections.

8. In an electric sign, the combination with a diaphragm and lamp -sockets mounted thereon and lying chiefly on the rear side thereof, of an open-front letter-shell consisting of sheet metal formed of a continuous piece from front to rear and having a ridge impressed therein between the front and rear edges of the shell for retaining the diaphragm, said shell having narrow marginal flanges formed at the rear edges thereof; and a back plate secured to said flanges substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL HALLER.

Witnesses HOWARD M. Cox, CAROLYN RAFTERY.

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